Touchstone to Determine the True Catholic Faith, Part 14
Of pardons.
AS for pardons which nowe are not the smallest part of Catholique religion: It should séeme in the beginning, they were no part thereof at all; nor of that faith once giuen to the saintes. Of them one of their owne patrons and defenders writeth thus: Amongst all thinges we handle in this booke, there is no one thing, Alphonsus de castro de Indulgentiis.which the scriptures hauehave lesse declared, and whereof the olde writers hauehave lesse spoken. Notwithstanding for this cause, are they to be despised, because the vse of them seemeth lately to be receiued into the Church, because many things are knowne to them that succeede, which those auncient writers were vtterly ignorant of. For of the transubstantiation of ye bread into the bodie of Christ, there is seldome mention in the olde writers, of the proceeding of the holy ghost from the sonne, more rare mention, and of purgatorie almost no mention at all, especially among the Greeke writers. For which cause euen to this daie, purgatorie is not beleeued of the Grecians. Thus farre Alphonsus. Where, as he confesseth the truth of their pardons, transubstantiation, and purgatorie, so he erreth in the procéeding of the holie ghost, which both the scriptures,These places proue the proceeding of the holy ghost. Rom. 8.9. Gal. 4.6. Ioh. 20.22. These fathers also make mention of it. Greg. Naz. orat. de statu Episcopal. Pascasius de S spiritu. Aug. de Trinit. lib 6. fol. 323. & lib. 15. fol. 472. & 474. Rossens. contra articul. Luther. Concil. Tol. 4 cap. 6. and the ancient fathers doe plainelie teach. So that then by his iudgement, pardons, transubstantiation, and purgatorie, came latelie into the Church, and were not that first faith, once giuen to the saintes: and therefore they are counterfeit, therfore they are not the Catholique faith; we maie be saued without them. The Bishoppe of Rochester Fisher, of pardons confesseth the same. It is not certaine (saith he) when pardons began, or of whom. Erasmus also in his preface vponupon the first Epistle to the Corinthians, writes, that in the beginning pardons were remissions of the canonicall punishments, which the Church imposed to them that did open pennance. But nowe they are saide to take awaie Gods punishments due after this life to sinners.
But of the true vse of pardons, thus we maie read in the councell of Toletan. We ordaine that vponupon the day of the Lordes passion, the mysterie of the crosse, which the Lord would hauehave shewed to all men with a cleare voice, and that the people should receiue pardon of all their sinnes, that they being clensed by the compunction of repentance, they may be worthy to receiue the reuerent feast of the Lordes resurrection, our sinnes being forgiuen, and may take the sacrament of his body and bloud being clensed from our sinnes.
This is that which we learne out of the gospell, that all ministers in the Apostles, hauehave receiued power of forgiuing sinnes:Io. 20.23. and to them all, hath our Sauiour saide and not to Peter onelie, Whose sinnes you forgiue they are forgiuen, and whose sinnes you retaine, they are retained. This is that which S. Paul teacheth:2. Cor. 5.17. Olde thinges are passed away, behold all thinges are made newe, and all these thinges are of God, who hath reconciled vsus to himselfe, by Iesus Christ, and hath giuen vntounto vsus the ministerie of this reconciliation. That is to say, because God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himselfe, not imputing vntounto them their sinnes, and hath put in vsus the word of reconciliation: In Christes steede therefore, we are Embassadours, and as though God did beseech you by vsus, we pray you most earnestly, that you would bee reconciled to God. This place first, ouer throweth the doctrine of mans free will, which teacheth, that we are onelie helped by the grace of God, whereas the Apostle saieth, we are created, all thinges are newe, and all things are of God: nothing then of our selues. Secondlie, that God hath in Iesus Christ reconciled the whole world to himselfe. And that all ministers and pastors, are Gods embassadours in Christes stéede, and in them, he put this worde of reconciliation, this his most gratious, generall and free pardon, that whosoeuer beléeueth this glad tidings of the sonne of God, dying, and rising againe, for our sins; shall hauehave pardon and frée remission of all his sins, shall be reconciled to God, shall not hauehave his sinnes imputed vntounto him. So that then, euerie minister hath his worde of reconciliation committed vntounto him: hath this power of proclaiming this generall pardon, to all true penitent sinners: not the Pope onelie, as he séemeth to challenge. And euerie one, that heareth and beleeueth this our embassage, this our message, hath the force thereof, that is, the remission of his sinnes, firmelie assured to him and sealed, not with a bull of lead, as the Popes pardons are,Ephes. 1.5. but with the spirit of God: as we reade, God hath adopted vsus to himselfe, through Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, Verse 7.to the praise of the glorie of his grace. And againe, by whome we hauehave redemption through his bloud,Verse 12. euen the forgiuenesse of sins, according to his rich grace. And againe, In whom we are chosen, that first trusted in Christ, and that we should be to the praise of his glorie. In whome also ye hauehave trusted (speaking to the Ephesians) after ye hauehave heard the word of truth, euen the gospell of your saluation: wherein also after that you beleeued, ye were sealed, with the holy spirit of promise. Here is our frée redemption, the frée forgiuenesse of our sinnes, by Iesus Christ. Here is the gospell, the worde of reconciliation, the tydings it bringeth of this deliuerance: here is the seale of this pardon and reconciliation euen the spirit of God: here is the ende thereof often repeated; that wee all should be, to the praise of the glorie of God: That is, that we all should praise the great merciemercy, and pitie, and gratious goodnes of our God, who so freelie, and willinglie hath pardoned so manie, so notorious, so vndeserued sinners. Now if this power laie in the Pope, we should hauehave cause to praise him.
And of this pardon, and of the meanes to obtaine the same, that is faith in Iesus Christ,Rom. 10.9. we read. Rom. 10.9. This is the word of faith which we preach, That is to saie, if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth, the Lord Iesus, and beleeue in thy hearte, that God raised him from the deade, thou shalt be saued. For with the heart wee beleeue to iustification, and with the mouth we confesse to saluation. Here is iustification, the acquittance and pardon of our sinnes, and saluation of our soules. And this word, this pardon (saieth the Apostle) is neare vsus, we néede not go to Ierusalem for it; as the Iewes were compelled to do, in their sinnes, and trespasses, and there to offer sacrifices, and so to obtaine pardon; much lesse to Rome, or anie other place: we are now fréede from this burthen: It is now at home with vsus, nay in our mouthes, and in our harts. To buy the Popes pardons, is to distrust this pardon, to go so far for the word of our saluation, is to denye the Apostle, who saieth, it is men at home amongst vsus, euen in our hearts. But to conclude this place; Antoninus a great learned man confesseth,Tit. 10. de Indulgentiis. That of pardons which the Popes giuegive, we hauehave nothing expressed in the holie scripture. Although this be alledged for them: To whome you forgiue any thing, I forgiue also: Neither in the auncient doctors. So that then also by his iudgement, they are not that faith nor anie parte thereof, which was once giuen to the saints. And therefore no part of true catholique religion by S. Iudes determination.
Philippus de dies writes thus, vponupon these wordes of our Sauiour: So God loued the world, that he gaue his onelyonly begotten son, Fer. 2. Pent. conc. 1.&c. Condemning all buying and selling of the Popes pardons. God (saith he) gaue his sonne. He solde him not, because he is inestimable, he is without price, neither therfore did we possesse him, that we should buy him. This was the iniquitie of Iudas, which sold that, which could be bought for no money, he solde that, which the euerlasting father gaue freely. And doth not the Pope so nowe? in selling his merits, and in selling pardons and masses: imitating herein rather Iudas, then Peter, whose successour hee would be.